Calif. Assembly Moves Trial Court Rights Act Forward

Law360, New York (January 31, 2012, 9:30 PM EST) -- The California State Assembly on Monday passed a controversial bill that state judges said will keep trial courts open by funding them directly instead of through the California Judicial Council, which critics said put much-needed funds toward administrative projects instead.

The 2011 Trial Court Rights Act, dubbed AB1208, passed the assembly 41-25 and will proceed to the state senate, which is expected to make a decision over the next six weeks, according to Assembly Majority Leader Charles Calderon, D-Montebello, who authored and introduced the bill in...